7

The elevator rose with a soft hum while I balanced the heavy tray. My legs felt unsteady in the narrow space because I was exhausted. I told myself it was just the long shift and nothing else.

Shane’s texts kept coming every twenty minutes but I ignored them. The scarf sat looser around my neck than Shane preferred. I had not tightened it yet because I just wanted to finish this delivery.

'Where are you?' – Shane

I locked the screen and put the phone away. The hallway up here felt quieter than the rest of the hotel. Thick carpet swallowed my footsteps while I walked to the suite door.

I knocked twice and waited for an answer.

"Come in," a rough voice called out.

I used my key card and pushed the door open. The living area lights were dimmed low and the man stood near the balcony doors. He turned slowly when I stepped inside and I saw his face properly for the first time.

His features were sharp but his eyes looked unfocused. Sweat beaded on his forehead even though the room felt cool. I assumed the stress from the corporate event downstairs had gotten to him.

"Room service," I said and kept my tone professional. "The kitchen sent up the grilled chicken and vegetables you requested."

He stared at me for a long second like he was trying to place something. Then he gestured toward the table near the windows and told me to set it there.

I crossed the room and placed the tray down carefully. The silverware clinked softly against the porcelain while he watched me the whole time. His hand rested on the back of a chair like he needed the support.

"You were on the floor earlier," he said and his words came a little slow. "Handling the guests."

I straightened and folded my hands in front of me. I told him I was doing VIP support tonight because we were short staffed.

He nodded once then winced like the motion hurt. I figured the rival groups filling the same space had worn him out. That had to be it because nothing else made sense.

"Sit for a minute," he said and pointed to the chair across from him.

I hesitated because protocol said to keep interactions brief. But something in his tone made me pull out the chair instead of leaving right away.

"I really should get back to the floor," I said and stayed seated anyway. "They are short staffed with the gala in full swing."

He sat down heavily across from me and rubbed his temple. He asked if I worked these events often because the room felt too quiet.

"Often enough," I said and kept my answers short. "The corporate galas are the busiest because there are lots of moving pieces."

He picked up the fork but did not eat. He just turned it over in his hand and asked if I saw a lot from where I stood.

I shrugged slightly and told him I only saw what guests needed. The rest stayed between the groups because that was my job.

He gave a short laugh that did not sound amused. He said most people tried to guess what was happening but I did not.

The conversation felt strange and not like usual guest small talk. He kept looking at me like he was searching for something specific. I assumed it was the strong drink from earlier making him act off.

"My name is Stellan," he said after a pause. "And you are?"

"Adeline," I said and kept my voice steady.

"Adeline," he repeated like he was testing the sound. "You tied that scarf tight tonight and it looks uncomfortable."

My hand went to my neck without thinking. I told him it was part of the uniform and completely standard.

He leaned back in his chair and studied me. He said it did not look standard and looked like it was choking me.

I dropped my hand and shifted in the seat. Shane’s words from last night echoed in my head about keeping it proper.

"It is fine," I said and asked if he needed anything else with the meal.

Stellan pushed the plate slightly away. He said he was not hungry and the drink they brought up earlier tasted wrong.

I nodded like I understood. I offered to have them send up something else or call the front desk for medical.

"No," he said sharp and then softened. "Stay and tell me something normal about working here every day."

I let out a breath and glanced toward the door. The gala noise felt far away up here and I just wanted to go home.

"It is work," I said and kept it simple. "Some guests are decent and some are not so I just handle what comes."

"Home," he repeated and asked what waited for me there.

The question landed heavier than I expected. I thought about Shane on the couch waiting for another round about the missing money.

I assumed Stellan was just making conversation to fill the quiet. I gave him part of the truth and said it was just bills and routine.

He watched my face carefully. He said steady sounded like I was carrying more than the tray.

I stood up then because the conversation had drifted too far. I told him I should get back downstairs before they missed me on the floor.

Stellan reached out and touched my wrist lightly before I could step away. His fingers felt warm and steady despite how off he looked.

"Wait just a little longer," he said and his voice was quiet. "The room spins less when someone is talking to me."

I froze at the contact because it felt different from usual guest interactions. There were no demands or accusations and it just sounded honest.

I told myself it was the stress of the night making him act this way. Sitting back down for another minute would not hurt anything because the gala could spare me.

I lowered myself into the chair again and asked what he wanted to talk about.

He released my wrist but kept looking at me. He asked why I kept adjusting that scarf like it was trying to strangle me.

I touched the fabric again without meaning to. I told him it was just a habit from long shifts.

"Bullshit," he said softly. "I have spent years reading rooms full of liars and you are not saying it either."

The words hit closer than I liked. I thought about Shane waiting at home and how every conversation there ended with me smoothing things over.

Here in this quiet suite it felt like someone actually saw the weight. I assumed that feeling came from the late hour and the strange energy of the gala.

"I manage," I said finally. "Everybody does."

Stellan leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. He asked if I ever took that scarf off and just breathed for a minute.

The question sat between us and I did not answer right away. My phone vibrated in my pocket but I ignored it because it was probably Shane.

The silence stretched and Stellan did not push. He just waited like he had all the time in the world even though his hand trembled slightly.

I loosened the scarf a fraction to feel the air on my skin. I asked him if that was better.

He smiled for the first time and it was small but real. He said it was a start.

We talked longer than I planned and nothing was deep at first. He asked about the hotel routines and I asked about what brought his group here.

He gave vague answers about business and rivalries but his voice stayed calm. The disorientation seemed to ease the more we spoke and I just focused on keeping him comfortable.

My phone vibrated again and then a third time. I knew without looking it was Shane getting impatient.

'Are you ignoring me?' – Shane

I turned the phone off and dropped it into my bag. I stood up properly this time and smoothed my uniform.

I told him I really had to go because they would miss me downstairs.

Stellan stood too though he braced himself on the table. He told me to come back if I got another break and then said my name.

I paused at the door and looked back at him.

"Leave the scarf looser next time," he said and his eyes were clear. "It suits you better."

I did not answer and just nodded. I slipped out into the hallway with the tray and the door clicked shut behind me.

The gala noise rushed back in as I headed for the elevator. My wrist still felt the ghost of his touch and his words about the scarf lingered.

I assumed it was just a strange moment with a stressed guest. It would fade like every other odd interaction on a busy night and change nothing.

But as I stepped back onto the main floor my phone buzzed insistently. The suite upstairs had felt like a small pocket of quiet in the middle of everything.

I told myself I would not think about it again tonight. I had a shift to finish and home waiting after because that was all I could handle.

Still the loosened scarf around my neck felt different now. The night stretched ahead with more hours left and whatever waited when I finally walked through my own door.